SEATTLE — Gerrit Cole will be a star of stars.

Or maybe a starter of stars.

The Yankees ace was named the American League starter for Tuesday’s All-Star Game, which will be the first time Cole gets the ball to open the Midsummer Classic.

Cole, now a six-time All-Star, has only pitched in the showcase once, back in 2015 with the Pirates.

But the opportunity to start it will prompt a second appearance, and he will become the first Yankee to start the All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in 2001.

“I think it’s just always something that I’ve wanted to do, and I feel like I’m physically able to do it,” said Cole, who will be pitching on two days’ rest after throwing 7 ¹/₃ innings Saturday. “I got an opportunity, and [I am] thankful that Dusty [Baker] selected me.”

Baker, the AL and Astros manager, opted for Cole over Rangers ace and former Yankee Nathan Eovaldi, who has a 2.83 ERA, and Mariners star Luis Castillo, who would have been pitching in his home stadium.

Baker suggested that Cole’s desire to get the ball — he publicly lobbied to be the starter — helped his case.

“Guy’s been here five, six times. About time he started one,” Baker said on Monday’s workout day at T-Mobile Park. “And plus he’s one of the best there is. And plus he wanted it.

“A lot of guys, sometimes they might not want to pitch in this particular game, but he wanted to pitch. Hey, man, if a guy like Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch.”

Cole is having a typically excellent first half with the Yankees, who have won 14 of his 19 starts.

The 32-year-old has pitched to a 2.85 ERA and consistently been the $324 million stopper the Yankees signed him to be ahead of the 2020 season.

In games that Cole has started following a loss this year, the Yankees have gone 8-0, and he has posted a 2.13 ERA.

“Some of my fondest memories growing up, one of ’em is watching Pedro [Martinez] in the All-Star Game starting,” said Cole, who will become the 12th different Yankees pitcher to start the exhibition. “I’ve been to a few of them and had the pleasure of watching some future Hall of Famers do it. I’ve always been like, ‘Man, I really hope I could do that one day.’ ”

There are other things for Cole to cross off, including a Cy Young (he has been a runner-up twice) and a World Series win (his Astros lost to the Nationals in the 2019 championship).

But his baseball bucket list will get a bit shorter Tuesday as he joins Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing, Spud Chandler, Hank Borowy, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford, Bob Turley, Mel Stottlemyre, Jimmy Key, David Wells and Clemens as Yankees pitchers to start an All-Star Game.